Damaging Tobacco Mosaic Virus Using Electrochemistry: A Novel Method to Synthesize High-Quality Vaccines

Authors

Angelica Diaz Tremillo, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Kevin Ayala Pineda, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Nicholas Pudar, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Drake Joseph, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Michael Pravica, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow

Files

Description

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative to develop novel and rapid ways to synthesize highly targeted and effective vaccines. We report a study that tested the effectiveness of using electrochemistry to damage the Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV). We hypothesized that by utilizing the acidic properties of DNA and RNA contained by viruses, viral genetic material can be selectively denatured using electrochemistry. We also hypothesized that the viral capsid would be less damaged due to its non-acidic properties and thus the intact capsid could be used as a vaccine vector to promote immune system response. We tested TMV potency by infecting pinto bean seedlings with electrochemically treated and untreated TMV and observed their growth for four weeks. Various spectroscopic techniques such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) and Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) Spectroscopy were implemented to assess changes in the electrochemically-treated viruses. Finally, Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) was used to examine oxidative damage in the samples. It was observed that plants infected with electrochemically-treated TMV developed significantly fewer necrotic lesions compared to plants infected with untreated TMV. We also found significant changes in the UV-Vis spectral peaks, NMR spectral peaks, and cyclic voltammograms before and after electrochemical damage. Preliminary results were obtained which suggest that the electrochemical techniques used in this study effectively damaged the TMV virions. Through further testing and improvements, this innovative technique could be used to develop highly targeted and effective vaccines.

Publication Date

Fall 11-15-2021

Language

English

Keywords

Tobacco mosaic virus; Electrochemistry; Vaccine; Cyclic voltammetry

File Format

pdf

File Size

4000 KB

Comments

Faculty Mentor: Michael Pravica, Ph.D.

Recommended Citation

Diaz Tremillo, Angelica; Ayala Pineda, Kevin; Pudar, Nicholas; Joseph, Drake; and Pravica, Michael, "Damaging Tobacco Mosaic Virus Using Electrochemistry: A Novel Method to Synthesize High-Quality Vaccines" (2021). Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters. 80.
https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/durep_posters/80

Rights

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